A. P. Corsair, Riot Act meet in allowance as owners battle in standings
ALTOONA, Iowa – With the 2014 Iowa Festival of Racing two weeks away, Saturday night’s card features an intriguing allowance race in place of its usual stakes fare. The six-furlong entry-level sprint, which attracted eight geldings, includes a clash between owners Danny Caldwell and Maggi Moss as they battle for the top spot in the standings.
Moss, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, has been the leading owner here for a phenomenal 11 straight years and runs the speedy A. P. Corsair, who has a pair of frustrating seconds at this meet as an odds-on favorite. A. P. Corsair, a $7,500 claim by Caldwell last July 27 from Moss, was claimed back Feb. 16 for $16,000 and won a pair of Oaklawn Park starter allowances before heading north with trainer Chris Richard.
Caldwell, who holds a 20-18 lead over Moss in the standings, raises Riot Act in class after a determined win by a head in a May 30 conditioned claiming race. Trained by Federico Villafranco and ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Caldwell’s preferred tandem, Riot Act aims for his third win here against a tougher cast.
Patty’s Key, victorious May 10 in the $77,775 John Wayne Stakes over six Iowa-breds, tackles open company for trainer Thad Keller and will try to put his deep closing style to good use in this speed-laden affair.
The consistent Arkansas-bred Valid Commander and the versatile Oklahoma-bred Somthin Country, who makes a belated 2014 debut for owner-trainer Larry Dunbar, both possess tactical speed, which could be handy if the quick Hilarium can engage A. P. Corsair in a pace duel.
Free nominations close Saturday for the June 27-28 Iowa Festival of Racing, with more than $1 million in purses spread over six open stakes races.
Director of racing Derron Heldt said, “We encourage horsemen to take a serious look at the festival as [nominations] are free, and the money is outstanding.”
The marquee events are three Grade 3 stakes, all June 28 – the $200,000 Iowa Oaks, the $250,000 Iowa Derby, and the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap.